Who Is Rhino on ‘The Masked Singer’: Fans Think Barry Zito

The “Battle of the Sixes” episode on The Masked Singer saw the Top 6 take the stage on Wednesday, April 29. They all performed their hearts out before one singer was sent packing. The Rhino has been safe three times but was at risk in week nine alongside the White Tiger and the Banana. Ultimately, the White Tiger was sent home and was unmasked as former NFL star Rob Gronkowski.

Here is what we know about the Rhino’s identity and why fans think it’s former major league pitcher Barry Zito under that horned mask.

One of the biggest clues came when there was a visual of a sliced slider bun. Zito, who pitched with the Oakland Athletics and San Francisco Giants, was known for his hybrid cutter-slider pitch. He is also always dressed as an old-time pilot, which was typically called an “ace.” Zito was an ace of both the Giants’ and Athletics’ pitching staff.

In another video package, the Rhino’s suitcase offered some great clues when it showed the audience and panelists a Tennessee flag, a stocking with coal in it, a bass clef, a house, and a seal wearing a bowtie. After retiring from baseball, Zito started a music career after learning the ropes during a minor league stint in Nashville, Tennessee, with the Nashville Sounds. He released an EP in 2017 and later co-wrote and sang the theme song for the Nashville Sounds.

There was also a visual clue in the form of the state of Missouri with a crown on top. Zito’s wife is former Miss Missouri Amber Seyer. And seals keep popping up in his packages and the mascot for the San Francisco Giants is Lou Seal.

The Rhino is Barry Zito because he played for the Giants whose mascot is Lou Seal, and he keeps having seals appear. #TheMaskedSinger

Finally, in the most recent episode, his video package talked about zen and Nirvana and namaste. Zito was known for doing yoga in the outfield as a way to warm up before games and he had a zen garden in his bachelor pad before he was married.

This week, after the Rhino performed “Die a Happy Man” by Thomas Rhett, his “masked munchies” were revealed to be a bowl of spaghetti and meatballs. Jenny McCarthy guessed that that indicates the Rhino is Italian — which fits with him being Zito. In fact, Zito was inducted to the National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame in 2017. McCarthy actually guesses Zito too.

But the Rhino was not revealed this week, so you’ll just have to keep tuning in to find out who is wearing that horned mask.